Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Music of Gibraltar

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Music of Gibraltar

Gibraltar is a British overseas territory with many musical influences. Rock based music is undergoing a renaissance with a multitude of local bands playing original material and covers. Local venues have begun accepting Gibraltarian bands and those from nearby Spain, resulting in a varied mix of live performances every weekend as well as some weekday nights.

Contents

Musicians from Gibraltar include Charles Ramirez, the first guitarist invited to play with the Royal College of Music Orchestra, and successful rock bands like Breed 77, Melon Diesel and Taxi.

The best known Gibraltarian musician is Albert Hammond, who has had top 10 hits in the UK & US, and has written many songs for international artists such as Whitney Houston, Tina Turner and Julio Iglesias among many others.

Concerts in Gibraltar by well known international acts have recently given local acts a showcase for original material in their supporting roles. These include Surianne supporting Suzanne Vega, Sarah Howard supporting Steve Hogarth, Jetstream supporting Ali Campbell and Jessie J and SuperWookie supporting Marillion at the annual Gibraltar Music Festival.

Notable Gibraltarian bands

  • Breed 77 - Internationally recognised Flamenco-Metal band.
  • Taxi - Pop rock band formed by three of Melon Diesel's former members.
  • Adrian Pisarello & the EC band - Acoustic Rumba-Rock with Flamenco and Jazz influences.
  • Jetstream - Rock / Pop, Opened for UB40s Ali Campbell and Jesse J for the inaugural Gibraltar Music Festival in 2012. EP "Piece of the Puzzle" showcased and released at the 2014 Gibraltar Music Festival headlined by The Script
  • Gibraltar is mentioned in the song 'Love is Here to Stay', from the 1951 film musical An American in Paris by the American songwriting partnership of George and Ira Gershwin.
  • "The Rock of Gibraltar" is a 1952 song by American singer/songwriter Frankie Laine.
  • Gibraltar is mentioned in The Beatles 1969 single The Ballad of John and Yoko telling the events of John Lennon's marriage to Yoko Ono.
  • "Gibraltar (Copy Thy Neighbour)" is the third track from Icelandic post-punk group Kukl's 1986 album Holidays in Europe (The Naughty Nought), fronted by Björk Guðmundsdóttir.
  • "Rock Of Gibraltar" is the eighth track of the Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds 2003 album Nocturama.
  • Spanish/French singer Manu Chao mentions Gibraltar in his 1998 solo debut album Clandestino in the track of the same name and again in his 2000 follow up album Próxima Estación: Esperanza in the track "La Primavera".
  • "Gibraltar" is the title track of Congolese/French rapper Abd al Malik's 2006 album of the same name.

    • References

    Music of Gibraltar Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA